In editing The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, CSAC has accumulated an archive of more than 70,000 primary source documents from the Founding era. CSAC has created the lesson plans below to facilitate the use of these documents in classrooms. These lesson plans are suggestions. Some modification may be necessary based on grade level and classroom considerations.
A Series of Lesson Plan Books Published by the CSAC
The Creation and Ratification of the Constitution
- Part I. The Constitutional Convention
- Part II. The Ratification of the Constitution
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- The Debate over the Nature of Republican Government
- The Debate over the Three Branches of Government
- The Debate over a Bill of Rights
- The Issue of Religious Liberty during Ratification
- The Use of Visual Symbols during Ratification
- The Use of Metaphors during Ratification
- Political Humor during Ratification
- The Processes of Amending or Adopting a Constitution
- The Process of Ratification: A Case Study of Four States
Scripted Conversations: The Federalist and Antifederalists Debate the Constitution
- Scripted Debate on the Nature of the Union
- Scripted Debate on the Executive Branch
- Scripted Debate on the House of Representatives
- Scripted Debate on the Senate
- Scripted Debate on the Judicial Branch
- Scripted Debate on the Bill of Rights
Scripted Conversations: The Supreme Court on Executive Power
- The Federalists and Antifederalists Debate the Executive Branch
- The Supreme Court on Executive War Powers
- The Supreme Court on Executive War Powers and Terrorism
- The Supreme Court on Executive Privilege
- The Supreme Court on the Relationship Between the Executive and Legislative Branches
Lesson Plans Using Materials on the CSAC Website
- Calls for the Right to Bear Arms During the Ratification Period – One lesson suggestion
- Militias and the Standing Army During the Ratification Period – A Socratic Seminar lesson suggestion
- Federal Pillars Illustrations – Two lesson suggestions
- Poetry During the Ratification Period – Five lesson suggestions
- Celebrations of the Constitution – Two lesson suggestions
- Metaphors Used to Describe the Constitution – Four lesson suggestions
- Political Humor and Satire – Four lesson suggestions using a Reader’s Theater format
- Founders on the Founders – Six lesson suggestions
- Quaker Opposition to the Constitution – One lesson suggestion
- Instructions to the Convention Delegates – One lesson suggestion
- The Confederation Congress and the Constitution – One lesson suggestion
- The Press and the Constitution – Two lesson suggestions
- Various Speeches/Documents from the State Ratification Pages – Two lesson suggestions
- Creating a “Fakebook” Page – One lesson suggestion on Using Word Portraits on the Founders
- Recommended Amendments and the Creation of the Bill of Rights – One lesson suggestion
- Religious Freedom: A Scripted Conversation with James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
Lesson Plans by CSAC Fellows
Lessons Relating to the Confederation Period
- Assessing the Weakness of the Articles of Confederation – Angela Bazan
- Shays’ Rebellion in the Eyes of Farmers – Matt Scherbarth
- Calling for the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention – Melinda Perkins
- A Scripted Lesson on the Mississippi Crisis during the Confederation Period – Barry Mellen
- Commerce Drives the Appeal to Revise the Articles of Confederation: A Scripted Lesson – Sarah Pica
- George Washington: The American Cincinnatus – Sarah Pica
- The Crises Facing the United States During the Confederation Era: A Scripted Lesson – Steven Stary
Lessons Relating to the Philadelphia Convention
- Patriots or Traitors: Praise and Criticism of the Constitutional Convention – Audrey Damon Wynne
- Reactions to the Constitutional Convention – Colleen Kollasch
- Instructions to the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention – Andrew Britton
- Instructions to the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention – Anna-Lisa Dahlgren
- Assessing the Instructions to the Delegates to the Philadelphia Convention – Joe Schmidt
- Alexander Hamilton Takes on the Critics of the Constitution – Jennifer Wachowski
- The Reactions to the Constitutional Convention – Paul Stellpflug
- Robert Yates and John Lansing Explanation for Leaving the Convention – Pam Smith
- The Electoral College: A Scripted Lesson – Rick Kelm
- Alexander Hamilton and his Opponents Discuss the Executive Branch: A Scripted Lesson – Val Crofts
- The Delegates Debate the Separation of Powers at the Philadelphia Convention: A Scripted Lesson – Kevin Gleeson
Lessons Relating to the Ratification of the Constitution
- Federalist and Antifederalist Arguments During Ratification – Melinda Perkins
- Federalist/Antifederalist Showdown – Matt Scherbarth
- Songs and Poetry During Ratification – Mike Ellery
- Calling for a Second Constitutional Convention – Paul Stellpflug
- Religion and Ratification – Mary Talsky
- Studying Ratification Through Song – Tammy Johnson
- Ratification and the American Dream – Aaron Callender
- A Scripted Debate over the Difficulties/Dangers of Constitutional Change – Lori Keough
- A Scripted Debate Between George Mason and Tobias Lear – David Moon
- A Scripted Debate Between James Wilson and Two Hecklers – Vince Kube
- A Scripted Debate over the Religious Test Clause: A Scripted Debate – Kathy Bartel
- The Religious Test Clause: A Fictitious Discussion – John Franco
- Interpreting Allegorical Writing from the Ratification Debates – Barry Mellen
- Toasting the Constitution during the Ratification Debates – Ryan Mussack
- Using Maps to Teach the Ratification of the Constitution – Steven Stary
- A Visual Interpretation of Metaphors Used the Ratification Debates – Anna-Lisa Dahlgren